general - View From The Trenches

AN OVERVIEW: Consider this your invitation to
The 1985 National Adventure Gaming Convention.
This form contains everything you'll need to know to
plan an exciting weekend of fun and adventure in one
of the most enjoyable hobby activities anywhere. By
filling out and returning this form prior to May 30th.
you'll guarantee your reservations in the activities of
your choice in a veritable Adventure Gaming Utopia.
We urge you to read through this form carefully so as
(0 plan your activities and budget your time wisely to
insure thai you derive as much pleasure as possible
from your visit. Nowhere else will you find as many
tournaments. exhibits. new adventure gaming products.
hobby personalities. and fellow hobbyists
massed in one place for a virtual orgy of gaming
activity.
If you have never attended a game convention before.
you're in for a treat. ORIGINS XI looms as potentially
the largest ORIGINS ever with many first-time
exhibitors including industry giant Milton Bradley
and several overseas companies_ The ORIGINS 8S
stare has hosted five of the ten previous ORIGINS
National Gaming conventions in the Baltimore·
Philadelphia area and is at peak strength for this
year's extravaganza. The Towson State University
campus in Towson. MD (just North of Baltimore) offers
a combination of luxurious facilities and ample
space the likes of which seldom graces a gaming convention
of any scale. The advantages of this year's site
include new lodging facilities and thoroughly air conditioned
event areas which are easily equal or super'
ior to any such facilities used previously.
DIRECTIONS: TSU is accessible directly by four
lane highway along the hub of Interstate 1-95 and
1-695 with easy access to 1-70 and 1-83 and contains
thousands of parking spots readily accessible to
convention attendees. Many of the Baltimore area's
finest restaurants and motels are within a to minute
drive, although food and lodging services abound on
campus. Pre·registrants will receive more detailed
maps and directions by return mall with their confirmation.
FROM THE NORTHEAST take 1-95 South to the
Baltimore Beltway (1·695). Take Beltway Exit 2S
Charles Street South to the second light and turn left
onto Towsontown Blvd. Follow signs to the registration
area. FROM THE NORTH take 1-83 South directly
to the Charles Street South exit. FROM THE
WEST take 1-70 to 1-695 and proceed northeast to
Towson and the Charles Street South exit. FROM
THE SOUTH take 1-95 north to 1-695 and proceed
northeast to Towson and the Charles Street South
Exit.
MOTEL DIRECTIONS: To the Holiday Inn in Timonium.
take 1-83 Exit 24 from 1-695 North to the
first exit. Proceed on Timonium Road east to the first
light. and turn right. To the Quality Inn in Towson.
take York Road Exit 26 from 1-695 South. The Quality
Inn is visible just inside the beltway on your left.
Plan to make a week of it. Baltimore is within an
hour's drive of numerous points of interest for vacationing
garners: Aberdeen Proving Grounds with its
massive AFV collection. Geuysburg battlefield. Fort
McHenry and the USF Constellation. the nation's
capital. and major league baseball in the form of the
World Champion Detroit Tigers vsour very own Bal·
timore Orioles on July Is(, 2nd. and 3rd. A bit further
afield one can sample the delights of Maryland's seashore
at Ocean City to the east, Atlantic City and casino
gambling to the northeast. Hershey Park to the
North and King's Dominion tothe south, and historic
battlefields such as Antietam and Fredricksburg. or
Harper's Feny to the West. Charm City Travel. our
motel reservation and travel agent, will be happy to
arrange side trips for you to local points of interest.
See "Motels."
PRICING POLICY: The ORIGINS policy has always
been to spread the cost of participation between
THE ANNUAL NATIONAL
ADVENTURE GAMING SHOW
TOWSON STATE UNIVERSITY
TOWSON, MD
JUNE 27, 28, 29, 30, 1985
the admission fee and event fees so that expenses cor·
respond to the J.mount of participation. The ORI·
GINS 8S l'itaff does not set prices for any event; these
are determined by the various manufacturers. clubs.
and individuals which sponsor each cvent and receive
those revenues to offset their expenses in participation
at the show. These prices vary widely to reflect
the popularity of the event. the cost of putting it on.
the prizes being offered. and the motivation of each
sponsor. However. there are a great number of free
events and one could easily entertain oneself without
paying another cent beyond the price of ORIGINS 8S
membership. The ORIGINS 8S staff is proud to point
out that despite inflation. we have kept membership.
lodging. and food prices BELOW the level of those at
recent ORIGINS while upgrading the quality of the
facilities available to anendees. In fact, Pre· Regi·
strants to ORIGINS XI can purchase their attending
memberships at a rate LOWER than that charged at
the door for ORIGINS 81.
PRIZES: ORIGINS has a uniform policy for all events
unless stated otherwise. All events designated as
tournaments will have a standard 1st place plaque for
the winner which may be picked up at the Tournament
HQ anytime after the completion of the event.
These are separate from merchandise certificates
which will be gh'en out as additional prizes for specified
events. Merchandise certificates. redeemable at
any manufacturer's exhibit. must be redeemed at the
convention; they will not be honored by mail. Certificates
awarding a dollar amount of merchandise as a
prize must be used in full; they cannot be redeemed
for cash in whole or in part. Any additional prizes of·
fered are the responsibility of the sponsor and the
participant. The ORIGINS 8S staff is not responsible
for the awarding of any prizes not advertized as such
and using this format in the convention program.
Participants are urged to check the evcnt listings if
prizes are important 10 them for they vary widely.
Some sponsors give out far more in prizcs than they
take in from entry fees. and for others the reverse is
true. The only constant is that an event classified as a
tournament will receive a standard 1st place ORI­
GINS 8S plaque.
HIGHLIGHTS,
o FOUR days of Adventure Gaming Events
o Over 500 events of all types and description
o One Free program book to each attendee
o Free Discount coupons to each Pre-Registrant
o Free Door Prizes at each booth for lucky attendees
o Over 100 Free demonstrations and seminars
o Dozens of championship tournaments in a wide
assortment of games
o Pre-Registration for most paid events
o Painting Contest for Fantasy and Historical Fig·
ures. Units. Armies
• Unveiling of the industry's new products
• Game Auctions all three days
o Over 50 Historical Miniatures Events
o Hobby Personalities
o Video Arcade room
• Open Gaming Galore
• Free Movies
EMERGENCIES: In case of an emergency. a message
to call home can be received by calling 301·
298-3135 and we will attempt to find you-a feat
made easier if you are pre-registered.
ADMISSION & HOURS: Pre-Registration is highly
recommended. It helps us by taking away much of
the pressure from on-site registration and in allotting
the proper facilities to the most popular events. It
helps you to avoid long lines, and guarantees you a
place in the events of your choice. Most events have a
limited number of openings and will sell out before
the first die is cast. If you are pre-registered. you cannot
be locked out of your favorite event. or if you are
you will be notified by mail in time to make another
selection. Moreover. if you pre-register you save
money over the gate admission price, earn discount
coupons to spend at the exhibits not available otherwise.
and may pre-order your official ORIGINS 85
SOUVENIR T-SHIRT at 52 off the normal. show
price and have it waiting for you already made on
Thursday even before the exhibit hall opens to the
public. This 56.00 T-shirt offer is available only to
Pre· Registrants who order and pay for it with the en·
closed Pre-Registration form prior to May 30th. Be
sure to specify size and color desired. Available colors
include: black. tan. silver. white. blue. and green.
You must pre-register for the convention in order to
pre-register for any events. Payment must be en·
closed for your admission fee as well as any events.
Attendance at ORIGINS 8S events and displays (except
movies) is limited to those individuals wearing
an ORIGINS XI badge. All pre-registrations must be
filed on this form or a photocopy. If you need more
forms. please request them. Pre-Registration forms
must be postmarked no later than May 30th to guarantee
acceptance.
Convention registration is 518 per person for the en·
tire weekend. Pre-registrations postmarked no later
than May 30th qualify for a 514 price. One day regis·
tration is available al the door only for $10.00 per
day.
Convention hours are Thursday. June 27th from
Noon to Midnight. Friday. from 8 AM to Midnight.
Saturday from 8 AM to Midnight. and Sunday from
8 AM to 6 PM. Sites for 24 hour gaming will be provided.
but convention business will be handled only
during the above hours. The Exhibit Hall will be
open to paid anending members of ORIGINS XI on
Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. and on
Sunday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
Send pre· registration forms and payment to:
ORIGINS XI. P.O. Box 139. Middletown. NJ 07748.
Make all checks and money orders payable to
ORIGINS XI. Send no cash. Canadian Pre-Reg must
include Canadian/U.S. postal money orders in U.S.
funds. All other checks and money orders must be in
U.S. fun'Cis and drawn on U.S. banks. Confirmation
wilrbe by return mail. Should your Pre-Reg arrive tOO
late to return confirmation, your materials will be
held on file 10 be picked up at the Pre-Registration
Desk when you arrive. Your confirmation will consist
of a listing of events. lodging. and meal plans you
have reserved. any refunds due you, your pre-regis·
tration receipt, and detailed maps and instructions.
Bring your pre-registration receipt and package with
you. Upon arrival. you will trade it for an envelope
containing your convention program. any event or
meal tickets you are entitled to. admission badge.
and a receipt for lodging with instructions to proceed
to the housing authority if you are staying on campus.
If you lose your pre-reg receipt. merely ask for your
materials by name and be prepared to show identifi·
cation.
Everyone must be registered as an ORIGINS 8S
member to gain admission-including event spon·
sors and exhibitors. Exhibit personnel have been reg·
istered by their firms. and must request their materials
by company and individual name at the exhibitor
registration desk. No one will be allowed to pick up
registration materials for another person. Everyone
must appear in person. If an exhibitor also wishes to
register for an event he must do so on this pre·registration
form and check the appropriate box for exhibitor
status and list the firm he is with.
ORIGINS XI assumes no responsibility for lost materials.
Lost badges. programs. event/meal tickets.
or housing receipts must be repurchased if available
at all.
REFUNDS: Due to the expense of registration generation
and the need for event sponsors to be able to
plan on a sct number of participants it is not possible
for us to issue refunds of any type due to a change of
plans or a conflicting schedule. The only refunds is·
sued will be to registrants of cancellcd or sold out
evcnts. We urge you to study the time periods of the
events you register for to avoid conflicts, keeping in
mind that multi·round tournaments can tie you up
for long periods of time if you are not eliminated in
the early rounds.
PARKING: Pre-registrants will receive a map suggesting
available parking which is most accessible to
the convention. Certain areas have been restricted to
exhibitor, faculty. and staff use and require a special
parking permit. Nevertheless. parking is plentiful.
convenient, and free.
FOOD: Food service on campus is excellent and inexpensive.
The University Dining Hall will provide
twO different meal plans for pre·registrants only. The
S2S plan will consist of six meals: dinner on Friday.
three meals on Saturday. and breakfast and lunch on
Sunday. A $32 plan is also available which is good for
eight meals; three each on Friday and Saturday, and
breakfast and lunch on Sunday. This meal plan is an
excellent buy and includes a wide assonment of beverages.
salads. choice of multiple entrees. and desserts.
The variance of choice in the daily salad and
dessert bars is exceptional and includes soft ice
cream for creath'e sundae designers. Meal tickets
must be purchased no later than May 30th. Those
looking for simpler fare can avail themselves of a wide
variety of fast foods at concession stands on campus.
A guide to nearby restaurants will be published in the
convention program.
LODGING: On campus housing consisting of Dor·
mitory accomodations is available for S2S per pcrson
for a two day stay based on double occupancy. Additional
days are $12 each. There is a $20 refundable
deposit for key and linen per person which must bc
paid in advance to make the reservation. Kecp in
mind that all such room rates are based on double oc·
cupancy. IF YOU WISH TO STAY WITH SOME·
ONE YOU KNOW, YOU SHOULD MAKE AR·
RANGEMENTS FOR ONE PERSON TO PAY
FOR AND RESERVE A ROOM FOR TWO PEO·
PLE UNDER HIS NAME ONLY BY PAYING THE
COMBINED $90 PRICE AND REFUNDABLE
LINEN FEE ON ONE REGISTRATION. Each
room has a connecting bathroom shared by one other
room. If a group of four wants adjoining rooms they
should so specify in a covering leiter accompanying
both room reservations. Each dormitory will ha\'e
available a number of lounges and rec rooms for open
gaming. Pillows WILL be provided. Fresh towels will
be available daily upon requcst.
MOTELS & TRAVEL: MOlel accommodations exist
within easy driving distance of the campus. Special
reduced convention rates will apply only to those .....ho
book their reservations through CHARM CITY
TRAVEL. I East Redwood. Baltimore. MD 21202.
You may call at 301·244·8444 re: ORIGINS 8S motel
or travel reservations. No Collect Calls Please. All
room reservations are (\1,'0 night minimum stays and
subject to 110;0 Baltimore County Hotel and Sales
tax. A one night deposit is required to confirm your
reservation with full payment due 4S days prior to the
convention. Payment may be made by money order.
personal check. or VISA/Mastercard. Rates vary but
in all cases are considerably higher than on campus
housing. If you .....ish to make your reservations yourself.
feel free to do so. but be advised that the special
convention rate will not apply. Shuttle service between
the motels and the campus will be available only
to those motels booked through Charm City Travel.
Charm City Travel will also arrange transportation
between the airport and the servicing motels. All motel
reservations must be made directly with the motels
or through Charm City Travels. DELTA AIRLINES
is the official airlines for ORIGINS 85. Travel to Bal·
timore can be arranged through Charm City Travcl
or by calling DELTA's Convention Desk direct on 1­
800-241·6760 and specifying that you are attending
ORIGINS 8S in Baltimorc.